Huller cotton gin



April 1939- F. E. DEEMS 2,155,181

' HULLER COTTON GIN Filed Sept. 29, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet l 3nventor FRANK EDEEMS (lttorneus Filed Sept. 29, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIIII I II Ottomegs April 18, 1939. E DEEMS 2,155,181

HULLER COTTON GIN Filed Sept. 29, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Bnvcntor Gttorncgs April 18, 1939. 5 DEEMS 2,155,181

HULLER COTTON GIN Filed Sept. 29, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Snoentor THANK E.DEEM5 attorneys F. E DEEMS 2,155,181

April 18, 1939.

HULLER COTTON GIN Filed Sept. 29, 1937 5 Sheets-$heet 5 (Ittornegs Patented Apr. 18, 1939 PATENT OFFICE HULLER COTTON GIN Frank E. Deems, Birmingham, Ala., assignor to Continental Gin Company, a corporation of Delaware Application September 29, 1937, Serial No. 166,262

15 Claims.

This invention relates to cotton gins, particularly cotton gins of the huller type embodying a gin stand and separable breast elements.

One object of this invention is to provide a huller cotton gin having inner and outer breasts with means to move the breasts into and out of ginning relation with respect to the saw cylinder, and to open the outer breast with respect to the inner and to dump the roll, the shifting means being such that when the outer breast is open the contents of the roll box will fall out by gravity.

A further object of the invention is to provide a shifting means for the inner and outer breasts of huller gins comprising a single bell crank lever which shall be effective both to move the breasts out of ginning relation and to open the outer breast with respect to the inner breast; also to provide stop means for the bell crank which shall be beyond center with respect to its connection when the breasts are both in the open and in the closed position, whereby to hold them in both positions.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a rolling support for the gin breasts comprising V-grooved rollers and complementary tracks therefor for the upper end of the breasts, and inclined guiding supports for the lower end of the breasts, together with means to adjust said supports axially with respect to the saw cylinder.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a means to stop outward movement of the inner breast as soon as it is moved out of ginning relation with respect to the saw cylinder whereby further movement of the shifting means brings about the separation of the inner and the outer breasts.

As is well known in the operation of huller cotton gins, it is desirable to have a means for shifting the gin breasts into and out of ginning relation with the saw cylinder without shutting down the motive power for a battery of gins. An example of means for accomplishing such a purpose is illustrated in the patent to T. S. Grimes No. 1,244,196, issued October 23, 1917. In such apparatus with which I am familiar, however, there has not been provided a means whereby the breasts may be shifted bodily and separated to dump the roll box in a single movement. Also, in apparatus with which I am familiar, it has heretofore been necessary to clean out the roll box manually after the breasts have been separated, Whereas, in my improved apparatus, the breasts are so tilted, when separated, that the surfaces on which the cotton rests in the roll box are inclined at an angle less than the angle of repose thereof, whereby it falls out by gravity.

Apparatus embodying these and other novel features of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this ap- Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the;

outer breast open with respect to the inner breast to dump the roll box;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the means for shifting the breasts viewed from the side opposite to that shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a detail view of one of the roller axles supporting the gin breasts;

Fig. 8 is a detail view looking in the direction VIII-VIII of Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 is a detail view looking at right angle to Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10 is a detail view illustrating the stop means for the lever employed in shifting the gin breasts, with the parts thereof separated.

Referring to the drawings for a better understanding of my invention, I show a gin stand 10 which has mounted therein a saw cylinder II. It is understood that the saw cylinder comprises a multiplicity of spaced circular saws mounted on a shaft, such as l2. Mounted on the front of the gin stand i5 is an inner breast frame 13 having upper and lower ginning rib rails I 4 and IE, on which are mounted a multiplicity of ribs I! which cooperate with the saws in the saw cylinder H to separate the lint cotton from the seed.

The inner breast frame I3 is supported by V- grooved rollers 18 resting on complementary tracks l9 carried by the gin stand I 0, whereby the breast may be shifted forwardly to move the gin ribs I! out of ginning relation with respect to the saw cylinder II, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The end of each of the tracks 19 is curved upwardly at 20 to form a stop for the forward movement of the inner gin breast.

Each of the V-grooved rollers I 8 is mounted on a shaft 2|, which has a threaded portion 22, which screws into a threaded opening 23 in the inner breast frame I3, as shown in Fig. 6. The

shaft 2| is held in its adjusted position by means of a lock nut 24. The roller turns on a bearing portion 26 and is held in place on the axle by a nut 21. By this means, the position of the breast frame may be adjusted axially of the saw cylinder H whereby to provide the proper clearance between the gin ribs i7 and the saws of the saw cylinder II.

The lower end of the inner breast frame is rounded to form a sliding foot 28 which rests by gravity upon an inclined support 29 mounted at each end of the gin breast frame on the gin stand H]. The support 29 is provided with a lateral vertically extending flange 38 against which the sliding foot 28 rests. The support 29 is adjustably mounted upon a bracket 32 formed on the side of the gin stand Ill and is adjusted laterally by means of adjusting screws there being slotted holes 34 extending vertically through the lug 32. The support 29 is locked in adjusted position by means of studs 36 which extend through the openings 34 into the support 29 (see Figs. 8 and 9).

Pivotally mounted on the front of the inner breast frame I3 is an outer breast frame 31, there being a slot 38 in the inner breast frame in which is fitted a pivot pin 39 carried by the outer breast frame 3'1. Extending longitudinally of the outer breast frame 3'! is an upper huller rib rail 4| and a lower huller rib rail 42 which support between them a multiplicity of huller ribs 43, which latter cooperate with the saw cylinder II to separate the hulls from the seed cotton before it is separated from the seed by the saws and gin ribs l'l. Curved plates 44 and 46 in the inner and outer breasts respectively, above the gin ribs and huller ribs, form between them a roll box 41 in which the roll of seed cotton is maintained when the ginning operation is going on, as is well understood. At the lower end of the roll box 41 are mounted the seed fingers 48 which extend between the saws on the saw cylinder II whereby to hold the seed cotton in the roll box until it is ginned and which permit the seeds to fall through to be conveyed away by means not shown. The outer breast frame 3'! being pivoted at one side thereof, as shown, bears by gravity against and is supported by the forward edge of the inner breast frame 13. A latch 49 may be employed to hold the two frames against unintended separation. A heavy spring 50 connects the gin stand l0 and the inner breast frame l3 and serves to draw the inner breast toward the gin stand and to aid in shifting the breasts toward ginning relation, as will later be described.

The outer breast frame 31 is enclosed at the front by means of plates 5| and 52, which form the front of the gin. In the lower part of the outer breast is mounted a picker roll 53, a reclaiming saw 54, and a doffer brush 56, all of which parts, as is also the saw cylinder II, are driven by means not shown in the directions shown by the arrows. Extending across in the outer breast is an inclined plate 51, the purpose of which is to direct cotton fed into the outer breast against the picker roll 53.

The operation of the parts so far described is as follows: Seed cotton is fed into the outer breast and is directed against the picker roll 53 by the inclined plate 51. The huller ribs 43 permit the seed cotton to be carried by the saw cylinder into the roll box 41, but serve to strip the hulls from the cotton. The hulls fall downwardly into the bottom of the outer breast on to a perforated plate 58 which permits fine particles to pass through. Any cotton locks tending to pass out with the hulls are picked up by the reclaiming saw 54 and are doffed therefrom by the rotary brush 5! so as to be again thrown into engagement with the up-going side of the picker roll 53 and carried thereby past plate 51 and delivered to the saw cylinder H. Large size trash and hulls pass over the lip 59 of the perforated plate 58 to be conveyed away by means not shown. The seed cotton passing into the roll box 41 forms a roll and in operation with the gin rib H, the saw cylinder ll strips the lint from the seed, which lint is doffed from the saw cylinder and conveyed away by means not shown, and which form no part of my present invention.

As is well understood, it is often desirable to shift the gin breasts out of ginning relation with respect to the saw cylinder ll without the necessity of shutting down the motive power driving a battery of the gins. To accomplish this purpose, I provide a shaft 6| extending through the outer breast frame 31 and having on the ends thereof crank arms 62. The crank arms 62 are connected to links 63, which are in turn connected to the gin stand l0, preferably to the end of the tracks I9, by means of pivot pins 64. The length of the links 63 is adjustable by means of adjusting nuts 66.

At one end of the shaft BI, and formed integrally with the arms 62, is a manually operable lever 61. Formed on the lever 61 is a segmental boss 68 which cooperates with a boss 69 carried by the frame 31 to stop the lever and prevent its complete rotation in either direction (see Fig. 10). When the breasts are closed, that is, in ginning position, the lever 61 is in the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and the segment 68 is bearing against the forward side of the cooperating segment 69, with the arm 62 beyond center with respect to the connecting link 63. When the lever 61 is pulled forwardly, rotating the shaft BI and the crank arms 62, the inner and outer breast frames l3 and 31 are moved together through the rollers l8 on the track 19.

When the rollers l8 reach the outer curved end 29 of the track l9, as shown in Fig. 3, they are stopped thereby and the ginning ribs 11 have been moved out of ginning relation with respect to the saw cylinder ll. Further movement of the lever 61 causes the outer breast frame 31 to swing about itspivot 39 and to separate at the bottom from the inner breast, as shown in Fig. 4. In this position, it will be noted that the arms 62 have moved around until they are beyond center with respect to the links 63 and the stop segment 68 is on the rear side of its cooperating segment 69, so that the breasts are automatically held in open position, and will remain so until the lever 51 is moved upwardly from the position shown in Fig. 4. In the position shown in Fig. 4, it will also be noted that the contents of the roll box 41 are free to fall out the bottom by gravity, and that the gin ribs ll have been tilted forwardly at the top so that they present an angle to the contents of the roll box less than the angle of repose of the material therein.

To bring the breasts back into ginning position, the shaft 6| is rotated by means of the lever 61 in the direction opposite to that just described, whereupon the outer breast frame 31 first assumes the position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, by reason of gravity. Further rotation of the shaft 6| by means of the lever 6'! draws both breasts rearwardly, the grooved rollers l8 rolling on the tracks l9 to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the operation being aided by the pull of the spring 50, which also aids to raise the lower end 28 of the inner breast frame l3 on its sliding support 29.

In addition to the means described for automatically stopping the breasts in non-ginning and open positions, I may provide a quadrant H which is mounted on the breast frame 31, as shown in Figs, and 6, which quadrant cooperates with a spring pressed latch 12 operable from the outer end of the lever 61 by a handhold 13 and pivoted arm 14. This feature is important in providing a means for holding the breasts in any selected position against accidental displacement.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have devised an improved huller cotton gin which is simple of design and by means of which, by a single movement, the breast elements may be separated from the gin stand and from each other for dumping. It will also be apparent that I have provided a sturdy, readily adjustable gin breast construction.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications, without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a cotton gin, a saw cylinder, an inner breast, a set of gin ribs mounted in the inner breast to cooperate with the saw cylinder, an outer breast, a set of huller ribs mounted in the outer breast to cooperate with the saw cylinder, the space between said breasts forming a roll box, means to shift both breasts forwardly out of ginning position, and means included in said shifting means to separate the breasts and dump the box.

2. In a cotton gin, a gin stand, a saw cylinder mounted therein, an inner gin breast frame movably mounted on the front of the gin stand, a set of gin ribs mounted in the inner breast and adapted to cooperate with the saw cylinder, an outer breast frame pivotally mounted at the top on the inner breast frame, a set of huller ribs mounted in the outer breast frame and also adapted to cooperate with the saw cylinder, means to shift the breasts forwardly out of ginning position, and means included in the shifting means to separate the inner and outer breast frames at the bottom to empty the gin breasts.

3. In a cotton gin, a gin stand, a saw cylinder mounted in the gin stand, a movable inner gin breast frame at the front of the gin stand, roller and track means for movably supporting the gin breast on the gin stand, an outer gin breast frame pivotally mounted on the inner frame, and a bell crank and link connection between the gin stand and gin breast frames, to move the breasts through the roller and track means out of ginning position and to separate the inner and outer breasts to dump the contents thereof.

4. In a cotton gin, a gin stand, a saw cylinder mounted in the gin stand, a movable inner gin breast frame at the front of the gin stand, roller and track means for movably supporting the gin breast on the gin stand, an outer gin breast frame pivotally mounted on the inner frame, a bell crank and link connection between the gin stand and gin breast frames to move the breasts through the roller and track means out of ginning position and to separate the inner and outer breasts to dump the contents thereof, and stop means for the bell crank located off center with respect to the link to hold the breasts both in ginning position and in separated position.

5. In a cotton gin, a gin stand, a saw cylinder mounted in the gin stand, a movable inner gin breast frame at the front of the gin stand, roller and track means for movably supporting the gin breast on the gin stand, an outer gin breast frame pivotally mounted on the inner frame, a bell crank and link connection between the gin stand and gin breast frames to move the breasts through the roller and track means out of ginning position and to separate the inner and outer breasts to dump the contents thereof, stop means for the bell crank located off center with respect to the link to hold the breasts both in ginning position and in separated position, and latch means to hold the breasts in any selected position.

6. In a cotton gin, a gin stand, a saw cylinder mounted in the gin stand, an inner gin breast frame, tracks carried by the gin stand and extending forwardly therefrom, rollers on the inner gin breast frame riding on the tracks, an outer gin breast frame pivotally mounted near its top on the inner frame, a manually operable bell crank lever carried by the outer gin breast frame, a link connecting one arm of the bell crank to the gin stand to shift the gin breasts relative to the gin stand, means to limit outward movement of the inner breast before the bell crank lever has reached the limit of its movement, whereby the bell crank is effective to move the outer breast frame about its pivot to separate its lower end from the inner breast, and stop means for the bell crank off center with respect to the link to hold the breasts in separated position.

7. In a cotton gin, a gin stand, a saw cylinder mounted in the gin stand, separable breast elements mounted on the front of the gin stand and forming between them a roll chamber, ginning and huller ribs mounted respectively in the breast elements, means to shift the breast elements out of ginning relation with the saw cylinder, and means included in said shifting means to separate the breast elements and dump the roll box.

8. In a cotton gin, a gin stand, a saw cylinder mounted in the gin stand, separable breast elements mounted on the front of the gin stand and forming between them a roll chamber, ginning and huller ribs mounted respectively in the breast elements, means to shift the breast elements out of ginning relation with the saw cylinder, means included in said shifting means to separate the breast elements and dump the roll box, and latch and quadrant means to hold the breasts in any selected position.

9. In a cotton gin, a gin stand, a saw cylinder mounted in the gin stand, separable breast elements mounted on the front of the gin stand and forming between them a roll chamber, ginning and huller ribs mounted respectively in the breast elements, means to shift the breast elements out of ginning relation with the saw cylinder, and means included in said shifting means to separate the breast elements and dump the roll box, said shifting means being efiective so to dispose the angle of the ribs to the horizontal as to permit the contents of the roll box to fall out by gravity.

10. In a huller cotton gin, a gin stand, a saw cylinder in the gin stand, an inner breast frame mounted on the front of the gin stand, a rolling support for the upper end of the breast frame comprising V-grooved rollers and complementary tracks, an inclined guiding support on the gin stand for the lower end of the inner breast frame, an outer breast frame pivotally mounted on the upper end and in front of the inner breast frame, ribs in the inner and outer breasts to cooperate with the saw cylinder, means to shift the breasts on their supports into and out of ginning relation with the saw cylinder, and means to adjust the position of the breasts axially with respect to the saw cylinder.

ii. In a huller cotton gin, a gin stand, a saw cylinder in the gin stand, an inner breast frame mounted on the front of the gin stand, a rolling support for the upper end of the breast frame comprising V-grooved rollers and complementary tracks, an inclined guiding support on the gin stand for the lower end of the inner breast frame, an outer breast pivotally mounted on the upper end and in front of the inner breast frame, ribs in the inner and outer breasts to cooperate with the saw cylinder, a spring biasing the breasts toward the gin stand, a bell crank and link connection betwen the gin stand and outer breast for shifting the breasts into and out of ginning relation with the saw cylinder, and stop means for the bell crank beyond center with respect to the link when the breasts are in both the open and in the closed positions.

12. In a huller cotton gin, a gin stand, a saw cylinder in the gin stand, an inner breast frame mounted on the front of the gin stand, a rolling support for the upper end of the breast frame comprising V-grooved rollers and complementary tracks, an inclined guiding support on the gin stand for the lower end of the inner breast frame, an outer breast pivotally mounted on the upper end and in front of the inner breast frame, ribs in the inner and outer breasts to cooperate with the saw cylinder, a spring biasing both breasts toward the gin stand, a bell crank and link connection between the gin stand and outer breast for shifting the breasts into and out of ginning relation with the saw cylinder, stop means for the bell crank beyond center with respect to the link when the breasts are in both the open and in the closed positions, and means to position the breasts on their supports axially with respect to the saw cylinder.

13. In a huller cotton gin, a gin stand, tracks carried by the gin stand and extending forwardly from. the upper part thereof, an inner breast frame, rollers carried by the inner breast frame and riding on the tracks, an inclined support on the gin stand for the lower end of the inner breast frame, an outer breast frame pivotally mounted at the top on the front of the inner breast frame, a saw cylinder in the gin stand, gin ribs in the inner breast to cooperate with the saw cylinder, huller ribs in the outer breast also to cooperate with the saw cylinder, the inner and outer breasts forming between them a roll box, a bell crank mounted on the outer breast, a link connecting the bell crank to the gin stand to shift the breasts forwardly and rearwardly into and out of ginning relation with respect to the saw cylinder, stops for the rollers to arrest their forward movement when the gin ribs are clear of the saw cylinder, the throw of said bell crank being such that on further movement the outer breast is moved about its pivotal support to separate the breasts at the bottom and dump the roll box, and stops for the bell crank off center with respect to the link in both the open and closed positions.

4. In a huller cotton gin, a gin stand, tracks carried by the gin stand and extending forwardly from. the upper part thereof, an inner breast frame, rollers carried by the inner breast frame and riding on the tracks, an inclined support on the gin stand for the lower end of the inner breast frame, an outer breast frame pivotally mounted at the top on the front of the inner breast frame, a saw cylinder in the gin stand, gin ribs in the inner breast to cooperate with the saw cylinder, huller ribs in the outer breast also to cooperate with the saw cylinder, the inner and outer breasts forming between them a roll box, a

bell crank mounted on the outer breast, a link connecting the bell crank to the gin stand to shift the breasts forwardly and rearwardly into and out of ginning relation with respect to the saw cylinder, stops for the rollers to arrest their forward movement when the gin ribs are clear of the saw cylinder, the throw of said bell crank being such that on further movement the .outer breast is moved about its pivotal support to separate the breasts at the bottom and dump the roll box, stops for the bell crank off center with respect to the link in both the open and closed positions, a quadrant mounted on the outer breast frame, and a latch carried by the lever to cooperate therewith and hold the breasts in any selected position.

15. In a huller cotton gin, a gin stand, tracks carried by the gin stand and extending forwardly from the upper part thereof, an inner breast frame, rollers on the inner breast frame and riding on the tracks, an inclined support on the gin stand for the lower end of the inner breast frame, an outer breast frame pivotally mounted at the top on the front of the inner breast frame, a saw cylinder in the gin stand, gin ribs in the inner breast to cooperate with the saw cylinder, huller ribs in the outer breast also to cooperate with the saw cylinder, the inner and outer breasts forming between them a roll box, a bell crank mounted on the outer breast, a link connecting the bell crank to the gin stand to shift the breasts forwardly and rearwardly into and out of ginning relation with respect to the saw cylinder, stops for the rollers on the inner breast to arrest its forward movement when the gin ribs are clear of the saw cylinder, the throw of said bell crank being such that on further movement the outer breast is moved about its pivotal support to separate the breasts at the bottom and dump the roll box, stops for the bell crank off center with respect to the link in both the open and closed positions, and means to adjust the position of the breasts axially with respect to the saw cylinder.

FRANK E. DEEMS. 

